The next summer heatwave could sink its teeth into London for 10 consecutive days, starting this weekend.
While the week opened with much-needed breeze and cooler temperatures, the balmy weather is not expected to last for long, as temperatures will heat up again from Saturday, quickly rising to 28C or 29C.
Tony Wisson, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said: “Toward the weekend, high pressure will continue to build in across most of the UK as it extends from the Azores. This will lead to more settled, warm or very warm conditions for many, especially across England and Wales, though some rain may still affect the far North.”
He added: “The forecast for this weekend suggests that temperatures could approach high twenties across parts of England, perhaps 30C in parts of the southeast, with values of mid- to high-twenties in Wales.”
Saturday’s forecast shows temperatures hanging around 28C in the capital by 4pm, but this looks to increase daily as temperatures hit 31C by 4pm on Monday.
BBC Weather suggests highs between 28 and 32C that will last for 10 days from Saturday onwards.
A heatwave occurs when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting the heatwave temperature threshold.
The temperature threshold is 27C for much of south-east England, and 28C in London and its surrounding areas.
The UK has already endured two heatwaves this year and smashed the record for the hottest spring ever in England and Wales, and the hottest June on record as temperatures peaked at 37.3C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Friday.
Mr Wisson said: “Although a return to heatwave conditions is looking increasingly likely for some areas, the likelihood of such extreme high temperatures or high levels of humidity as last week is currently low.”
Already, the mercury is predicted to peak at 30C in the capital next week from Monday to Thursday as the high pressure dominates across England and Wales with dry and warm conditions.
The south west and midlands will also soak up some heat across the same period with temperatures fluctuating between 28 and 30C in Birmingham and 27C in Exeter.
Northern Ireland and western Scotland are expected to see more variable weather with cloud and periods of rain, although the high pressure is expected to extend into the north with warm and dry conditions. Temperatures look set to remain in the low twenties for both areas next week.
According to forecasting platform WXCharts, a third heatwave could return on 7 July, when temperatures are set to hit 32C in south-east England, though longer-term forecasts can be less reliable.
Highs of 36C could then come to the capital on 8 July, and 35C the following day. WXCharts estimates that temperatures will reach the high twenties in the days that follow.
In its three-month summer outlook, the Met Office said temperatures during the period of 11 to 25 July are “likely to be above normal on the whole, with a greater than normal chance of hot conditions developing at times”.
Met Office forecast
Wednesday:
A fine day for many with variable cloud and sunny spells. Feeling warm in the south and east. A few showers possible in the north, ahead of rain and stronger winds reaching Northern Ireland and western Scotland in the afternoon.
Wednesday night:
Windy in the north with outbreaks of rain this evening, heavy at times, then turning drier overnight. Cloud reaching southern areas later, bringing coastal and hill fog to the southwest.
Thursday:
Cloud and patchy rain clearing the far south through the day. Largely dry elsewhere with sunny spells. Remaining windy in the northeast. Cool in the northwest, warm in the southeast.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Areas of cloud and rain continuing to affect northern regions into the weekend. Fine and dry further south with temperatures gradually rising under the spells of strong sunshine.
